With the various offerings from the 2023 model year already making an impression on potential buyers and industry critics alike, it’s quickly becoming clear that the modern buyer is looking to purchase vehicles that are reliable and cost-effective rather than flashy, fast, or expensive. Now that the new year brings about feelings of both rejuvenation and renewal, the prospect of owning a new vehicle is one that many are focussing on. However, there are still the current rates of inflation and other factors to consider when buying, which has led many to forgo fancy features or high performance for a vehicle they know is going to get the job done and last a long time. When it comes to a reliable SUV that adheres to all of the needs that current consumers have, look no further than the 2023 Chevy Equinox to deliver the goods and check all of the boxes. Today, we’ll be examining the cost-effectiveness and surprising capability of Chevy’s exciting SUV.
Competitive Pricing That Underbids the Competition
The first aspect of any vehicle’s cost-effectiveness is its starting MSRP. Many consumers live within the confines of a strict budget, and making a purchase that allows them to achieve the quality of life they need at a rate they can afford is essential. Chevy embraces this concept with the Equinox’s starting MSRP of $26,600. This number is significant, as the Equinox is going up against some stiff competition. The Equinox underbids many of the vehicles it will be going up against, most notably the Honda CR-V, Volkswagen Tiguan, and the Mazda CX-50.
The Other Factors of Cost
Of course, there’s much more to vehicle ownership than what you pay at the dealership. Insurance, repairs, and fuel costs are all essential parts of a cost-effective vehicle. While the Equinox underbids its competitors in the MSRP game, you’ll be satisfied to know that the other costs that come with owning an Equinox are just as impressive. First of all, there comes the matter of routine service at regular intervals. This is how you recoup a return on the investment you’ve made with the purchase of the Chevy Equinox. It’s estimated that repairs stay under the range of $1,000 during the first six years of ownership.
Calculating and presenting insurance premiums is itself a difficult task. When it comes to all of the costs that come with vehicle ownership, it’s important to remember that insurance is easily the most non-linear. There are a lot of determining factors that account for how much a person’s monthly premium will be. These include the age of the driver, their driving record, whether or not they use the vehicle for personal or occupational use, and the type of vehicle they drive. When measured on average, the cost to insure a Chevy Equinox comes out to around $1,500 a year. Once again, the Equinox proves to be a cost-effective choice, as this is over $600 less than the industry average.
Performance & Fuel Costs
In order to properly determine the fuel costs that you’ll have with the Chevy Equinox, we first need to ascertain the powertrain and performance attributes that come with the 2023 model year. In recent years, we’ve seen several manufacturers streamline production with some vehicles by limiting the powertrain options to a single engine, and for the 2023 Chevy Equinox, a turbocharged 1.5L four-cylinder engine is the offering that’s standard across all of the trim levels. With 175 horsepower, the Equinox retains its reputation as an agile vehicle that handles more like a sedan than an SUV. This engine works in conjunction with a six-speed automatic transmission, which is ideal for towing and traveling in a variety of areas. The towing capacity of the Equinox maxes out at 1,500 lbs, making it perfect for a casual getaway.
With the combination of a four-cylinder engine and six-speed automatic transmission, the Equinox has fairly conservative fuel consumption for an SUV of its size. According to testing conducted by the EPA, the Equinox gets an average of 26 MPG in the city and 31 MPG on the highway when configured with front-wheel drive. However, those who opt for all-wheel drive won’t be too disappointed with 24 MPG in the city and 30 MPG on the highway. These numbers make an average of 417 miles (front-wheel drive) or 406 miles (all-wheel drive) in-between fill-ups. This is more than adequate for the average budget of the modern family.
More for Your Money
Now that we’ve gotten the costs you need to consider out of the way, it’s time to see what the 2023 Equinox is really made of. After all, low costs are not much of an advantage if the product is unsatisfactory. While performance is usually a concern for many, other attributes such as comfort, driving assistance, and safety are all virtues that many consumers look for with the vehicles they purchase. Luckily, the Equinox checks all the boxes with these essentials.
The interior of the Equinox was recently redesigned to offer more passenger room, with an emphasis on a sophisticated design that’s anchored by the vehicle’s seven-inch infotainment screen. The base trim comes with many of the technological advantages that are common in this day and age. You’ll have compatibility with both Apple and Android systems, SiriusXM, active noise cancellation for those moments when you want to listen to music and not the traffic, as well as push-button start. Upper trims also present opportunities to upgrade to a larger infotainment screen (eight inches rather than seven) and a Bose premium stereo system. With four different trims in total and a variety of packages that can be added on, you have the opportunity to outfit the Equinox with the right comforts and amenities to make those long drives more enjoyable.
When it comes to the safety of the 2023 Chevy Equinox, you can drive with confidence, courtesy of a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA. To add a layer of protection for further peace of mind, the base trim comes with Chevy Safety Assist. This comprehensive suite of features includes forward collision alert with automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian braking, lane keep assist with lane departure warning, and IntelliBeam automatic high beams.
Upper trims have features such as adaptive cruise control and an HD rear vision camera for a more advanced driving assistance experience. For those who have younger drivers living under your roof, the Equinox also comes with GM’s Teen Driver technology, which allows you to keep an extra eye on your developing driver to monitor their driving habits and ensure that they’re putting the lessons that you’ve bestowed to good use.
Cost-Effective and Consumer Friendly
There’s much to look forward to in the upcoming model year, yet it seems as if the user-friendly SUV that’s available for a lower cost than the competition might be the one that comes out on top. This certainly speaks to Chevy having its hand on the pulse of consumer needs and adhering to them. The fact that the Equinox underbids its major rivals and is cheaper to maintain and insure than the industry average speaks to the quality of life it can offer to those who decide to purchase one. In an age where the SUV has reached unprecedented heights in popularity and finding the ideal version presents itself as a challenge, Chevy has once again shown why they’re one of the most trusted manufacturers in the entire industry. If you are looking for a vehicle that is reliable to own and cost-effective to purchase, the 2023 Chevy Equinox is it.
